The morbidity and mortality pattern of Brucella endocarditis

Six cases of well-documented Brucella endocarditis are reported. All the patients gave a history of ingestion of raw milk and/or being in contact with sheep and/or camels during herding. The diagnosis was based in each case on a history of ingestion of raw milk, high titres of Brucella antibodies, a positive blood culture and echocardiography. A combination of tetracycline, rifampicin and streptomycin was found to be effective in eradicating the Brucella organism. Two cases required aortic valve replacement, and another two required replacement of both aortic and mitral valves. One case died before any surgical intervention could be performed and one patient did not require surgery. Although it was noted that the Brucella organism attacks mainly valves which are already damaged, it may also attack and infect normal valves.     

Prognostic index in prediction of mortality from infective endocarditis

Out of 176 patients with infective endocarditis complicating rheumatic (120) and congenital heart disease (38), mortality occurred in 35 patients (19.9%). Presence of leukocytosis, heart failure, major embolisation and isolation of certain organisms including Staphylococci, beta-haemolytic Streptococci, Pseudomonas and Klebsiella were ominous with higher mortality rates compared with those when they were absent (P less than 0.02). Stepwise logistic multiple regression was then applied and the four most important independent variables were identified. A prognostic index for the prediction of mortality for infective endocarditis was then constructed by the summation of the regression coefficients. By applying this index, patients with infective endocarditis could be divided into subgroups with increasing proportional mortality from 5.8 to 83.3%. It provides an objective assessment of the risk patients with infective endocarditis, and a more reliable evaluation of benefit of any new treatment regimen, including cardiac surgery, during the acute stage.     

Diabetes mellitus and infective endocarditis: the insulin factor in patient morbidity and mortality.

AIMS: To analyse the characteristics of infective endocarditis (IE) in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM), and to evaluate the prognostic significance of DM according to insulin use. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 559 patients with definite IE including 75 patients (13%) with DM (insulin use n = 22; oral antidiabetic n = 53) were evaluated. Comparison of insulin-DM, oral-DM, and non-DM patients showed an older age (66 +/- 13, 66 +/- 10, 58 +/- 17, respectively; P = 0.004) in DM patients, and more frequent IE on prosthetic valves (32, 11, and 15%, respectively; P = 0.068) in insulin-DM patients. Oral streptococci (0, 8, and 18%, respectively; P = 0.016) were less frequently the causative organism than staphylococci (64, 26, and 29%, respectively; P = 0.002) in insulin-DM patients. Vegetations, dehiscence, abscess, and regurgitation rates did not differ among the three groups, nor did cardiac surgery rates (32, 47, and 48%, respectively; P = 0.334), but in-hospital mortality was higher in insulin-DM patients (50, 19, and 15%; P < 0.001). In multivariable analysis, independently of other determinants of death (age, IE location, Staphylococcus aureus, history of heart failure, immunosuppression, creatinine serum), insulin-DM was a predictor of death (OR, 4.69; 95% CI, 1.77-12.44), whereas oral-DM was not. CONCLUSION: IE prognosis in insulin-DM patients is poor due to the coexistence of host and pathogen factors. Insulin-DM patients with IE may require specific management.     

Surgical management of infective endocarditis

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: Although retrospective reviews evaluating the surgical management of infective endocarditis (IE) have been conducted in Europe and in the USA, few data exist regarding management of the condition in Canada. The study aim was to evaluate the surgical management of individuals with culture-positive active IE at a Canadian tertiary care university hospital. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed of 74 patients (53 males, 21 females; mean age 56 +/- 14 years) with a preoperative diagnosis of acute IE between 1995 and 2003 at the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia. Preoperative clinical variables evaluated included the Duke criteria for endocarditis, correlation between preoperative echocardiographic imaging and intraoperative findings, and postoperative morbidity and mortality. RESULTS: Native valve endocarditis (NVE) was present in 60 patients, and prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) in 14. All patients met the Duke criteria for endocarditis. Correlation between preoperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and surgical findings (vegetations 63%, abscesses 96%, leaflet perforation 100%) was superior when compared with preoperative transthoracic echocardiography (vegetations 43%, abscesses 75%, leaflet perforation 89%). There were low rates of postoperative morbidity (reoperation 8%, stroke 5%). Overall in-hospital mortality was 14% (seven NVE, 12%; three PVE, 21%). CONCLUSION: Herein is presented the largest and most current case series of patients treated surgically for active IE. The results demonstrate excellent agreement between preoperative TEE and intraoperative surgical findings in the current era of surgical management of this condition.     

Perioperative mortality and long-term outcome of infective endocarditis.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Infective endocarditis (IE) is a disease with a high morbidity and mortality during the active phase and a considerable risk of complications during follow-up. The aim of this study is to describe the clinical features of IE associated with perioperative mortality in patients undergoing surgery and the short- and long-term prognosis of this disease after surgical treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The clinical files of 150 patients (pts) admitted to our institution between 1989 and 2001 and whose final diagnosis was IE (Duke criteria) were retrospectively reviewed. Thus all patients included underwent at least 1 transthoracic examination, and a transesophageal examination if indicated. The study population was 69 patients with IE, 62 of whom (90%) underwent prosthetic valve replacement and 7 (10%) underwent explanation of pacemaker electrocatheter. In the statistical analysis, quantitative variables are expressed as means +/- SD and qualitative variables as proportions (percentages). Differences in survival were determined using the Kaplan-Meier log rank method. Associations were considered statistically significant when the p value was < 0.05. RESULTS: The mean age was 56 +/- 15 years. Thirty-five cases (51%) had prosthetic valve endocarditis, 30 (39%) had native valve IE and 7 (10%) pacemaker electrocatheter IE. Fifty-two patients (75%) had positive blood cultures. The most frequent agents were S. epidermidis (14.5%), S. aureus (14.5%), Enterococci (13%) and S. viridans (10%). Total perioperative mortality was 17.4% (n = 12), and surgical mortality was 19.4%. Our study shows a statistical tendency for higher mortality in diabetic patients (50% vs. 14%, p = 0.052) and in women (29% vs. 11%, p = 0.065). In multivariate analysis, the presence of heart failure was an independent predictor of perioperative mortality (OR = 11.4; 95% CI: 2.0-215.2; p = 0.024). Accumulated mortality in the first year was 28% and 5-year mortality was 48%. CONCLUSIONS: Prosthetic valve replacement in patients with IE is associated with high perioperative mortality (17.4%). Despite good early postoperative results, the mortality rate increases during the first year as well as the need for reoperation.     

Life-threatening complications of infective endocarditis and their management

Life-threatening complications of acute infective endocarditis are still a problem despite the availability of effective antimicrobial agents. These complications, divided into two main categories, cardiac and extracardiac, and a review of the literature are presented.     

Predictors of inhospital mortality in patients with infective endocarditis

Despite advances in therapy, infective endocarditis (IE) remains a serious disease with high mortality. We evaluated 155 Egyptian patients with Duke definite/possible IE to determine incidence, causes and predictors of inhospital mortality. The mean time from symptoms onset to diagnosis was 66.4 ± 97 days. The causes of mortality (38.7%) included congestive heart failure (CHF), sepsis, surgery related, stroke, cerebral hemorrhage, pulmonary embolism, sudden cardiac death, and hyperkalemia. Predictors of mortality on univariate analysis were duration of symptoms before hospital admission (p = 0.017), health care associated endocarditis (p = 0.039), CHF (p < 0.001), fulminant sepsis (p < 0.001), embolization (p = 0.011), need for dialysis (p = 0.003), need for cardiac surgery (p = 0.027), unperformed indicated cardiac surgery (p = 0.002) and higher C-reactive protein level (p = 0.05). In multivariate analysis, only CHF remained an independent predictor of mortality (p = 0.033). IE mortality was high in this cohort probably due to delayed diagnosis. Patients having these mortality predictors especially CHF deserve more aggressive treatment.     

The teeth and infective endocarditis

During 1981 and 1982 544 cases of infective endocarditis were investigated retrospectively by means of a questionnaire. Only 13.7% had undergone any dental procedure within three months of the onset of the illness, and in 42.5% there was no known cardiac abnormality before the onset of the disease. Furthermore, the number of cases occurring annually was about the same as or more than it was before the introduction of penicillin. The mouth and nasopharynx were the most likely sources of the commonest organism, Streptococcus viridans, and it is suggested that it is not dental extractions themselves which are of importance but good dental hygiene. In most patients with infective endocarditis the portal of entry of the organism whatever its nature cannot be identified. If this is so antibiotics are being given to only a small proportion of those at risk, and this would explain why the number of cases is much the same as it was before the introduction of penicillin. Furthermore, the large proportion of patients with no known previous cardiac abnormality adds to the difficulty of providing effective prophylaxis. The evidence suggests that antibiotic prophylaxis should still be given before dental procedures, and a schedule is appended. Much more importance should be given, however, to encouraging people to seek better routine dental care. We also believe that doctors and dentists should appreciate that the pattern of the disease has changed considerably in the past 50 years and that the information given here warrants a revised approach to the problem.     

The impact of transoesophageal echocardiography in elderly patients with infective endocarditis

BackgroundInfective endocarditis (IE) increasingly involves older patients. Geriatric status may influence diagnostic and therapeutic decisions.AimTo describe transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE) use in elderly IE patients, and its impact on therapeutic management and mortality.MethodsA multicentre prospective observational study (ELDERL-IE) included 120 patients aged ≥75 years with definite or possible IE: mean age 83.1± 5.0; range 75–101 years; 56 females (46.7%). Patients had an initial comprehensive geriatric assessment, and 3-month and 1-year follow-up. Comparisons were made between patients who did or did not undergo TEE.ResultsTransthoracic echocardiography revealed IE-related abnormalities in 85 patients (70.8%). Only 77 patients (64.2%) had TEE. Patients without TEE were older (85.4 ± 6.0 vs. 81.9 ± 3.9 years; P = 0.0011), had more comorbidities (Cumulative Illness Rating Scale-Geriatric score 17.9 ± 7.8 vs. 12.8 ± 6.7; P = 0.0005), more often had no history of valvular disease (60.5% vs. 37.7%; P = 0.0363), had a trend toward a higher Staphylococcus aureus infection rate (34.9% vs. 22.1%; P = 0.13) and less often an abscess (4.7% vs. 22.1%; P = 0.0122). Regarding the comprehensive geriatric assessment, patients without TEE had poorer functional, nutritional and cognitive statuses. Surgery was performed in 19 (15.8%) patients, all with TEE, was theoretically indicated but not performed in 15 (19.5%) patients with and 6 (14.0%) without TEE, and was not indicated in 43 (55.8%) patients with and 37 (86.0%) without TEE (P = 0.0006). Mortality was significantly higher in patients without TEE.ConclusionsDespite similar IE features, surgical indication was less frequently recognized in patients without TEE, who less often had surgery and had a poorer prognosis. Cardiac lesions might have been underdiagnosed in the absence of TEE, hampering optimal therapeutic management. Advice of geriatricians should help cardiologists to better use TEE in elderly patients with suspected IE.     

Increasing incidence and mortality of infective endocarditis: a population-based study through a record-linkage system

Background  

Few population-based studies provide epidemiological data on infective endocarditis (IE). Aim of the study is to analyze incidence and outcomes of IE in the Veneto Region (North-Eastern Italy).     

The teeth and infective endocarditis.

During 1981 and 1982 544 cases of infective endocarditis were investigated retrospectively by means of a questionnaire. Only 13.7% had undergone any dental procedure within three months of the onset of the illness, and in 42.5% there was no known cardiac abnormality before the onset of the disease. Furthermore, the number of cases occurring annually was about the same as or more than it was before the introduction of penicillin. The mouth and nasopharynx were the most likely sources of the commonest organism, Streptococcus viridans, and it is suggested that it is not dental extractions themselves which are of importance but good dental hygiene. In most patients with infective endocarditis the portal of entry of the organism whatever its nature cannot be identified. If this is so antibiotics are being given to only a small proportion of those at risk, and this would explain why the number of cases is much the same as it was before the introduction of penicillin. Furthermore, the large proportion of patients with no known previous cardiac abnormality adds to the difficulty of providing effective prophylaxis. The evidence suggests that antibiotic prophylaxis should still be given before dental procedures, and a schedule is appended. Much more importance should be given, however, to encouraging people to seek better routine dental care. We also believe that doctors and dentists should appreciate that the pattern of the disease has changed considerably in the past 50 years and that the information given here warrants a revised approach to the problem.     

Multicenter collaborative evaluation of a standardized serum bactericidal test as a prognostic indicator in infective endocarditis

One hundred twenty-nine patients with bacterial endocarditis were evaluated in a multicenter collaborative study to determine whether a standardized serum bactericidal test could predict the outcome of the infection. All centers used a microdilution test method that defined all known test variables, including inoculum size, culture medium, dilution technique, incubation time, method of subculture, and bactericidal endpoint. Peak serum bactericidal titers of 1:64 or more and trough serum bactericidal titers of 1:32 or more predicted bacteriologic cure in all patients. The traditionally recommended serum bactericidal titer of 1:8 had statistically significant predictive accuracy at trough antibiotic levels only. The serum bactericidal test was a poor predictor of bacteriologic failure and ultimate clinical outcome, which depends on many factors. Wider recognition by physicians and clinical microbiologists that this in vitro test of antimicrobial activity can accurately predict bacteriologic success but cannot accurately predict either bacteriologic failure or clinical outcome could lead to a better consensus about its appropriate use. On the basis of the results of this study, peak serum bactericidal titers of 1:64 or more and trough serum bactericidal titers of 1:32 or more are recommended to provide optimal medical therapy for infective endocarditis.